Le Voyage Magnifique

Me and Jasper

I ran into Jasper Riley yesterday. Me and Jasper used to run the ‘hood together when we was young. He was a couple years younger than me, so I kinda took him under my wing, so to speak. I always gave him a share of the apples and candy I swiped from the market. My keen senses kept him from gettin’ shot that day we almost got caught breakin’ into the bootlegger’s cooler to steal a couple six-packs of beer. But that was many years ago. Jasper was kinda wimpy and kept backing out of my business ventures, so we went our separate ways.

My current encounter with Jasper came about on ‘counta somethin’ that happened about six months ago. Feelin’ kinda poorly, I went to the hospital. They said the problem was with my liver. I figure that might be cuz of all those years drinkin’ rotgut corn likker. They prescribed some pills and plenty of rest, so I went down to the guv’mint office and applied for disability. They approved a whoppin’ stipend of $115.00 a month. Said it was cuz I was self-employed for most of my life. Made a good livin’ at it, too, growin’ and sellin’ all that marijuana. But it’s all gone now. So I borrowed some guy’s credit card to buy food and clothes.

Day before yesterday the cops came knockin’ on my door and said I should go with them. Yesterday they took me from the holdin’ cell and brought me into that big ol’ court room. Someone said in a loud voice with lotsa spunk, “All rise. The Honorable Judge Alexander J. Riley presiding.” And in walked my ol’ runnin’ buddy, Jasper, dressed in a black robe. After the charges were read, the ungrateful scoundrel sentenced me to fifteen years.